Cutting head assembly with replaceable blade

Abstract

The present invention discloses a replaceable blade cartridge and a compatible assembly for holding the cartridge wherein an old blade cartridge is slidably removed from the holding assembly and a new blade is slidably inserted into the holding assembly. Specifically, a replaceable blade cartridge for use in a compatible cutting head assembly of a centrifugal type slicer is disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An annular cutting head assembly having an inside and an outside and for use with a centrifugal type slicer located on said inside of said cutting head assembly for slicing selected products received on said inside of said cutting head assembly, said cutting head assembly comprising: a plurality of shoes each presenting a leading and a trailing portion;   a plurality of head block assemblies each rigidly attached respectively to the trailing portion of one of said shoes and to the leading portion of an adjacent one of said shoes, each head block assembly defining a passage therethrough for passing slices of said selected products from said inside to said outside of said cutting head assembly and further presenting structure defining a blade slot having a predetermined cross-sectional area; and   an elongated blade having a cutting edge, said blade slidably disposed in said blade slot for slidable removal therefrom, said cutting edge of said blade exposed on said inside of said cutting head assembly and extending along said passage and along the trailing portion of the corresponding adjacent shoe for slicing said selected products, and said blade having a cross-sectional configuration that matches the cross-sectional area of said blade slot in said head block assembly such that a predetermined gap is maintained between the cutting edge of said blade and the trailing portion of the corresponding adjacent shoe without any adjustment to the cutting head assembly, whereby said predetermined gap provides for a constant slice thickness of said selected products.